Beloit man arrested after Sunday morning chase

JANESVILLE — A Beloit man was arrested Sunday morning after stealing a car from a Janesville garage and leading Rock County deputies on a chase though Beloit, a news release from the Janesville police said.

Police said that they responded to a call at 5:42 a.m. Sunday that a car had been stolen from the 2400 block of West Burbank Avenue. The victim told police she was warming her car in the garage and realized a short time later it was missing.

At 5:50 a.m. a deputy from the Rock County Sheriff's Office located the vehicle traveling south on U.S. Hwy 51 in the town of Beloit.

The suspect increased speed after observing the deputy, police said.

The deputy initiated a pursuit continuing southbound that reached speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour, police said. As the vehicle approached the intersection of Riverside Drive and Henry Avenue in the city of Beloit, the driver attempted to turn east but lost control, striking a traffic control signal, police said.

After coming to rest, the suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot, the news release said. Beloit Police officers joined the foot pursuit and took the suspect into custody near the Beloit Public Library.

Investigation showed that McThune had been released from the Rock County Jail approximately two hours prior to the incident. Neither McThune nor any law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

McThune was booked into the Rock County Jail and will be held pending an initial court appearance Monday February 10.